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Olympic gold medalist Tori Bowie died due to complications in childbirth

Nick Profile Picby:Nick Geddes06/12/23

NickGeddesNews

Tori Bowie
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

An autopsy has revealed that U.S. Olympic champion sprinter Tori Bowie died from complications of childbirth, per USA TODAY.

Authorities found Bowie, a three-time Olympic medalist, dead in her Horizon West, Florida home on May 2 after performing a welfare check. She was 32. According to the autopsy report from the Orange County Medical Examiner Office, Bowie had a “well-developed fetus.” The medical examiner estimates Bowie to have been 8 months pregnant and in labor at the time of her death.

Medical officials said possible complications Bowie had included respiratory distress and eclampsia. Per the Cleveland Clinic, eclampsia occurs when a person develops seizures after a sudden spike in high blood pressure during pregnancy. The medical examiner ruled Bowie’s death as natural.

Bowie attended the University of Southern Mississippi, winning two national championships during her junior year in 2011. She placed third at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, recording a 100-meter dash time of 10.78 seconds.

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At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Bowie took home silver in the 100-meter dash event with a time of 10.83 seconds. Bowie earned bronze in the 200-meter dash, clocking in at 22.15 seconds. Her crowning achievement came as the anchor leg in the women’s 4×100 relay. She helped lead Team USA to the gold medal alongside Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix and English Gardner. At the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London, Bowie claimed gold after running a 10.85-second 100-meter dash.

USA track community offers condolences to Tori Bowie

“USATF is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Tori Bowie, a three-time Olympic medalist and two-time world champion,” USA Track and Field tweeted at the time of her death. “Her impact on the sport is immeasurable, and she will be greatly missed.”

World Athletics offered their condolences in a statement to CNN.

“[Bowie] was a rare athletic talent who represented the United States in both sprints and jumps during her decorated career,” the statement read. “A triple Olympic medallist in Rio in 2016, she reached the pinnacle of our sport when she won two gold medals, in the 100m and 4x100m relay, at the world championships in London a year later. We send heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and the USA track and field community at this difficult time.”